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Indigenous Peoples assert their rights at the Africa Climate Summit

4 September 2023 - The Africa Climate Summit commenced today in Nairobi, Kenya. The three-day summit aims to drive green growth and solutions for Africa and the world. Indigenous Peoples are represented by delegates from 20 countries advocating for their rights in climate action.

IWGIA på Folkemøde Bornholm 2023

Folkemødet på Bornholm nærmer sig og også i år er IWGIA repræsenteret ved en række arrangementer. Tilmed har vi i år udvidet folkemødeholdet betydeligt. Vi har nemlig fået et nyt hold frivillige, som har arrangeret ikke mindre end fire events. Herudover deltager vi i fire andre events.

Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders visits Denmark

The first Special Rapporteur on Environmental Defenders under the Aarhus Convention, Michel Forst, visited Denmark from 8-10 May as part of his European information tour explaining the new mandate. He met with various Danish government officials and civil society organisations, including

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IWGIA celebrates Inuit Circumpolar Council International leadership

On 21 July 2022 Sara Olsvig was elected as the new Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC) International Chair at the organisation’s 14th General Assembly, taking over the position from Dr Dalee Sambo Dorough, who served from July 2018.

IWGIA wishes to congratulate both Sara in her new role and

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Recognition of Indigenous Peoples in Nationally Determined Contributions

Indigenous Peoples positioned themselves in multilateral climate negotiations through their advocacy. Although the international community gradually recognises Indigenous Peoples’ contributions to climate governance, a rights-based approach in national climate action is still largely

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UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle climate change. In 2015, the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement, a universal agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the

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The Green Climate Fund (GCF)

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a climate finance mechanism established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010 and operating since 2015. The GCF assists developing countries with climate adaptation and mitigation actions. It aims to catalyse a flow of

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Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty under the United Nations (UN), adopted in 1992. The Convention has three objectives: to conserve biodiversity, to promote its sustainable use, and to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its utilisation (Art.

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El Mundo Indígena 2022: El Fondo Verde para el Clima

El Fondo Verde para el Clima (FVC) es un mecanismo de financiación climática creado en 2010 por la Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) y que ha estado en funcionamiento desde 2015. El Fondo brinda asistencia a los países en vías de desarrollo para sus

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The Indigenous World 2022: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty under the United Nations (UN), adopted in 1992. The Convention has three objectives: to conserve biodiversity, to promote its sustainable use, and to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its utilisation (Art.

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The Indigenous World 2022: The Green Climate Fund (GCF)

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is a climate finance mechanism established by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2010 and operating since 2015. The GCF assists developing countries with climate adaptation and mitigation actions. It aims to catalyse a flow of

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The Indigenous World 2022: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle climate change. In 2015, the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement, a universal agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the

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Indigenous Peoples call for Climate Action at COP 26

COP26 – the two-week UN Climate Change Conference – begins next week in Glasgow.

As in previous years, IWGIA will be there in partnership and alongside Indigenous Peoples to support their engagement, messages and mission to influence the outcomes of this key climate conference,

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Russia’s Indigenous Peoples call for international support to save the Arctic

Shifting to electric vehicles (EV) is seen as an important step towards a greener future. However, the process ofextracting nickel, a crucial component of EV batteries, very often is not environmental-friendly. The world’s largest producer of nickel, Nornickel, has been destroying

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New guide: Indigenous Peoples and Climate Technologies from UNEP-DTU

Picture credit:  A young fisherman walks under a living root bridge at Mawlynnong village, India. In the relentless damp of Meghalaya’s jungles the Khasi people have used the trainable roots of rubber trees to grow Jingkieng Dieng Jri living root bridges over rivers for centuries.  Photo from the book Lo-TEK: Design by Radical Indigenism by Julia Watson. Copyright: © Amos Chapple

Indigenous Peoples' knowledge on climate solutions can play a critical part in climate action. A new guide shows ways to integrate and strengthen Indigenous tech in national Technology Needs Assessments.

Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge of adapting to climatic change and their

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Indigenous Peoples stand up to oil companies in Peru

In 2020, the Government of Peru allocated 260 million Peruvian Soles (PEN) (approximately USD 72 million) of public funds to remediate tropical forest sites damaged by oil exploitation on Indigenous territory in the Pastaza, Corrientes, Tigre and Marañon river basins. With this, the government

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The cost of fighting for Indigenous people and environmental rights in Russia

Coal mining is destroying the forests of Siberia. Contamination of the taiga and rivers is harming the Shor people, who live from hunting, gathering and fishing. Anyone who stands up to the government and companies in defence of the right to nature suffers threats and harassment.

The Indigenous World 2021

This compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the

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The Indigenous World 2021: Convention on Biological Diversity

The Convention on Biological Diversity is an international treaty under the United Nations (UN) adopted in 1992. The Convention has three objectives: to conserve biodiversity, to promote its sustainable use, and to ensure the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from its utilisation (Art.

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The Indigenous World 2021: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle climate change. In 2015, the UNFCCC adopted the Paris Agreement, a universal agreement to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. The goal of the

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Renewable energies in Colombia: All that glitters is not gold

The struggle against climate change can be neutralized by the circumstances and conditions under which the clean energy transition is carried out. The behaviour of wind-energy companies in La Guajira, the territory of the Wayuu indigenous people, serves as an illustrative example.

Indigenous Peoples and land rights in Myanmar

Community, part of the Karen people. Photo: Alejandro Parellada 

After resisting the policy of forced assimilation enforced during the decades of military rule, today Indigenous peoples of Myanmar are subjected to land dispossession in the name of

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Indigenous Peoples and land rights in Myanmar

Community, part of the Karen people. Photo: Alejandro Parellada 

After resisting the policy of forced assimilation enforced during the decades of military rule, today Indigenous peoples of Myanmar are subjected to land dispossession in the name of

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Indigenous Activism in Russia: What's next?

Image of the Kazas community of the Indigenous Shor people in Kemerovo Oblast, which was displaced by the expansion of coal mines. Photo: Nelli Slupachik

Indigenous Activism in Russia: What's next?

Image of the Kazas community of the Indigenous Shor people in Kemerovo Oblast, which was displaced by the expansion of coal mines. Photo: Nelli Slupachik

Monitoring forest fires expose devastation of Indigenous Peoples’ territories and unique biodiversity in Bolivian lowlands

The most widespread and intractable forest fires ever recorded in Bolivia ravaged the lowland regions of Santa Cruz, Beni, La Paz and Cochabamba last year, making 2019 a particularly dark period for the country and for Indigenous Peoples as many of the affected areas were on Indigenous

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Indigenous Peoples call for climate action amidst global pandemic

IWGIA and AIPP submit a statement to the UNFCCC

In September 2020 the Asia Indigenous Peoples’ Pact (AIPP) and International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) presented a joint submission to the UNFCCC calling for the full consideration and engagement of Indigenous Peoples’ in climate action.

Indigenous Peoples are

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El Mundo Indígena 2020: Convención Marco de la ONU sobre el Cambio Climático

La Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) es un tratado internacional aprobado en la Cumbre de la Tierra en Río de Janeiro en 1992 para hacer frente al creciente problema del calentamiento de la Tierra y los efectos nocivos vinculados a un clima

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El Mundo Indigena 2019: Convención Marco de la ONU sobre el Cambio Climático

La Convención Marco de las Naciones Unidas sobre el Cambio Climático (CMNUCC) es un tratado internacional adoptado en 1992 durante la Cumbre para la Tierra en Río de Janeiro, con el fin de abordar el creciente problema del calentamiento global y los efectos nocivos relacionados con un cambio

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Indigenous World 2020: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle the growing problem of global warming and the related harmful effects of a changing climate. The UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has

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The Indigenous World 2020

The compilation is the unique result of a collaborative effort between Indigenous and non-indigenous activists and scholars who voluntarily document and report on the situation of Indigenous Peoples’ rights. We thank them and celebrate the bonds and sense of community that result from the close

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Impact of renewable energy projects on Indigenous communities in Kenya

The transition from the use of traditional energy sources to renewable energy solutions is rapidly becoming a necessity if humanity is to address the climate emergency we face. However, this pursuit cannot happen at the expense of human rights, including the loss of land, livelihoods and rights

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Indigenous Women & Climate Change

Against all the odds, and despite the challenges that climate change represents for Latin America, women are demonstrating day in, day out that they have the ideas and the unique and essential skills to propose a radical change in the matrix of civilisation at this crucial point in

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Peru: Deforestation in Times of Climate Change

This book comprises a total of 14 articles addressing the issue of deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon and its impacts, not only on the Amazonian environment and wildlife but particularly on the communities inhabiting the area. These impacts are being facilitated by informal dynamics for which

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Siberian fires having catastrophic effects on indigenous peoples and livelihoods

The world’s largest forest–the Siberian Taiga in Russia–has been on fire for most of 2019, destroying indigenous peoples' livelihoods.

While much of the world has focused on the fires raging in the Amazon, the world’s largest forest–the Siberian Taiga in Russia–has been on fire for most of 2019.

Since January this year, more than 130,000 square kilometres of land and forest—an area the size of Greece—has been burned in

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Fires in Indigenous Territories and Protected Areas in Bolivia

Since early August 2019, the most widespread and enduring fires in Bolivia’s history have been recorded in the country’s lowlands (Tierras Bajas). Widespread due to the large area burned and enduring because climatic conditions, along with the negligence of the authorities and even of those

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Indigenous peoples commit to climate action at UNSG Climate Action Summit

At the UNSG Climate Action Summit, indigenous peoples gave a statement on their commitments to climate action. IWGIA supports the statement and proposed climate actions, and we call for the international community to support indigenous peoples and their pledges by taking a rights-based approach

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Indigenous peoples raise concerns at UN Climate Meeting in Abu Dhabi

Despite being a small group of only eight people among the more than 1,000 participants at the UN Climate Meeting in Abu Dhabi in June, indigenous peoples were able to have their voices heard and put indigenous peoples’ rights on the agenda.

The Necessity: Collaboration for Coherence in Myanmar. Climate Change Response

Climate change is the great global challenge of the 21st century. Because of climate change, undesirable disasters became intense and has caused loss of many lives and billions of dollars’ worth of properties. To respond to climate change, the United Nations founded the body called United

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Forest Management, Women's Rights and REDD+ in Myanmar

In Myanmar, women manage forests and depend on them for their livelihoods, but their tenure over these forests is insecure. Women often have distinct roles in managing forests as compared to men, and therefore also have expert knowledge about forests and different priorities for how forests are

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Indigenous World 2019: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is an international treaty adopted at the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 to tackle the growing problem of global warming and the related harmful effects of a changing climate. The UNFCCC entered into force on 21 March 1994, and has

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The Indigenous World 2019

Rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point, and with an ever-shrinking civic space worldwide, the topics of criminalisation of Indigenous Rights Defenders’ activities and their organisations; land rights issues; and access to justice are more important

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Det grænseløse paradoks

I klimakampen er truede oprindelige folk vigtige for at beskytte os i industrilandene mod os selv

International Year of Indigenous Languages

At least 43 percent of the 7,000 languages spoken in the world today are endangered. Many of these belong to indigenous peoples and if something doesn't change soon, UNESCO predicts that we will lose as many as 3,000 indigenous languages by the end of this century. In an effort to raise public

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Climate Change and indigenous peoples

Indigenous peoples are some of the most affected by climate change

Indigenous peoples are some of the most affected by climate change. It is therefore extremely important that The Paris Agreement recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples in its preamble and that indigenous communities are included in relevant processes. This page collects some of

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50 år med at forsvare og promovere oprindelige folks rettigheder

2018 er året hvor International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) kan fejre 50 års jubilæum i vores forsvar af oprindelige folks rettigheder. På denne side kan du finde flere informationer af, hvad vi har opnået og hvilke trusler som oprindelige folk står overfor den dag i

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Indigenous peoples, land rights and forest conservation in Myanmar

In light of the urgency of both forest conservation and the recognition of indigenous communities’ rights to land and resources, along with the documented potential for creating conservation synergies through recognition of community rights, this study tries to look at the approaches to forest

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50 years defending indigenous peoples' rights

This year the International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (IWGIA) celebrates 50 years of defending indigenous peoples' rights and we want to share with you some of the facts we are proud of and some of the issues that affect the world's 370 million indigenous peoples.

50 years defending indigenous peoples’ rights

On the occasion of IWGIA's 50 years jubilee, IWGIA's Executive Director, Julie Koch, looks at the past 50 years development for indigenous peoples' rights and points to the main issues and opportunities for indigenous peoples.

Indigenous land in Russia declared World Heritage

In the Far East of Russia, the indigenous Udege people have for decades fought to protect their land with support from IWGIA. In July, their long struggle was finally rewarded as an area nearly four times the size of Yosemite National Park has been awarded World Heritage Status.

Facts about indigenous peoples

 The 9th of August is the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples and this page provides a brief overview of the most important international agreements related to indigenous peoples and some general facts about indigenous peoples.

Fremskridt for oprindelige folks rettigheder hjælper naturen

Oprindelige folk kan blive en af de helt afgørende faktorer i bevarelsen af nogle af verdens mest truede naturområder. Lige nu tilkæmper oprindelige folk sig, skridt for skridt, anerkendelse af deres rettigheder internationalt, mens oprindelige folk i Peru allerede har skabt et autonomt

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The Indigenous World 2018

The rising tensions between states and indigenous peoples are reaching a tipping point and The Indigenous World 2018 adds to the documented records, highlighting the increase in attacks and killings of indigenous peoples while defending their lands. The

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Indigenous peoples are recognised by the world's biggest climate fund

International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs (WGIA) and Denmark have long pushed for the adoption of a “GCF Indigenous Peoples Policy” in the Green Climate Fund, that every year allocates billions of dollars to climate projects. Just recently this policy was finally approved. “This is an

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Oprindelige folks betydning anerkendes af verdens største klimafond

Danmark og IWGIA har været stærkt medvirkende til, at Den Grønne Klimafond for nyligt vedtog en politik, der sikrer, at oprindelige folk fremover inddrages og høres når milliarder af kroner hvert år uddeles til klimaprojekter i udviklingslande. ”Et kæmpe skridt fremad for oprindelige folk”

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“Maps are more than housing and cultivation areas”

RESEARCH: Four reports illustrate how the method “participatory action research” can benefit indigenous peoples by acknowledging traditional knowledge and documenting land use and ownership for future generations.

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Nuevos informes, alertas urgentes, análisis, opiniones de expertos y otros recursos de IWGIA.

Climate

Indigenous peoples in climate action

Indigenous peoples across the world face the consequences of climate change. Indigenous peoples must, therefore, be heard and included in global, national and local climate action.

Indigenous

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Customary Land Tenure: Case Study in Sar Pauk Village

The study was conducted by POINT (Promotion of Indigenous and Nature Together) in Sar Pauk village, and especially emphasized on the customary land tenure of the village. The objective of the study is to identify and document customary land tenure of the village, including livelihoods, land

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The Indigenous World 2017

This yearbook gives a comprehensive update on the current situation of indigenous peoples and their human rights situation across the world, and offers an overview of the most significant developments in international and regional processes relating to indigenous peoples during

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IWGIA and Forests of the World foster debate on human rights and climate change

Both, the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals and the Climate Agreement signed last year during the COP21 in Paris, are strong tools to combat climate change. At the same time, these are mechanisms that ensure responsible resource consumption and the rights for
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Russia: Administration orders mass reindeer killing and fast-tracks gas extraction

On Yamal Peninsula, the administration has announced that it wants to slaughter 250,000 of the currently 700,000 reindeer living on the peninsula. At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources is speeding up the development of new gas fields in the Arctic. Between June and

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About IWGIA

IWGIA - International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs - is a global human rights organisation dedicated to promoting and defending Indigenous Peoples’ rights. Read more.

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Indigenous World

IWGIA's global report, the Indigenous World, provides an update of the current situation for Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Read The Indigenous World.

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